It gets really, really hot in NYC in the summer, particularly in July and August.  It’s the kind of hot where you’re sweating the moment you open the door, and all you want to do is stay inside in the A/C.  I really feel for those who have to head out everyday in this heat wearing a suit, and I really feel for those who have to wear a suit everyday AND ride the subway.  The subway stations are literally like an oven this time of year.  Ugh.  I’ve been fortunate to work generally in a “virtual” environment, and don’t really have to ever dress up except for a few meetings here and there.  But despite this freedom, I have continually worn jeans and a nice shirt when I head out during the week.  It’s one of my rules (I’ve written many times about my rules.), and I finally broke it this summer (without even noticing it until today).

We all have rules, some of them make a lot of sense, and some are just bizarre.  Forcing myself to wear jeans when it’s 90 and 80% humidity is a stupid rule (note: if you’re one of those people who just likes to dress up to feel good, then go for it).  Why did I do it?  Because I wanted to convince myself and others (who don’t really care) that I was indeed a working professional, not just some bum with a computer.  Why?  I don’t really know, but it was one of those things I didn’t even notice I was living by until someone pointed it out to me one day. It’s hard to notice the rules we hold ourselves too, but we all have them.  The key is figuring out which ones need to be broken.

Today as I was walking in the scorching NYC streets, I was thankful to be in my shorts.  I feel for those poor people that make themselves wear pants in the summer.